Selves and a



N. PEHS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D. CV

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

W. H. KIMBALL AND A. J. FRENCH, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T0 THEM- SELVES AND A. K. NOYES.

SPRING-BEDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,658, dated September 2, 1856.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, WILLIAM H. KIM- BALL and ANDREW J. FRENCH, of Lynn, in the county of Essexand State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Spring- Bedstead or Mattress-Foundation; and we do hereby declare that such is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l, is a top view of the same. Fig. 2, a vertical, central and` longitudinal section of it. Fig. 3, a transverse, central and vertical section of it.

In these drawings A, denotes a common bedstead or bed frame, of which c, b, repre sent the head and foot rails thereof. From the inner side of each of the said rails, two struts or project-ions o o, or cl (Z, are made to extend, and serve as supports for the fulcra e, e, of two upright levers B, C, or B', C', arranged as shown in the drawings. Each two of said levers are connected by transverse bars D, E, arranged on opposite sides of their fulcra, the upper two of the bars, viz, D, E', having two series of helical springs F F, connected to them, there being one of said series to each bar, and each spring of the same being connected to a spring of the other series by a rod or wire G, extending from the inner end of one spring to that of the other spring. The axes of the several rods are arranged parallel or there` about to one another, and in one horizontal plane with the aXes of the springs. Through the two lowerhorizontal bars D, E, a straining screw rod H, is extended as shown in Fig. 2, there being on one end of the rod, a head g, and on the other end of it a screw t, such being arranged as shown in the drawing. A crank nut I, is screwed upon the screw k, and when the former is turned against the cross bar E, adjacent to it, the two cross bars D, E, will be drawn toward one another so as to cause the levers B, C, B', C, to be moved on their fulcra in such manner as to increase the distance between the bars D', and E, and thereby strain up the springs.

From the above it will be seen that we have the means of increasing the tension or draft on the springs, and their connecting rods so that in case such should sag improperly at any time, while supporting a mattress or bed placed upon them, they may be restored to their proper positions or have such an amount of tension applied to them as may be desirable or circumstances may require. i

The above method of constructing an elastic bed foundation is not only very simple and cheap so far as construction is concerned but is very efficient in its operation.

What we claim is- Arranging and combining together and with the frame or bedstead A, the springs F, F, F, and their connection rods G, G, G, in manner essentially as set forth, the rocker bars D, E, the levers B, C, B, C', bars D', E', straining screw rod H, and `crank nut I, the whole being made to operate substantially in manner as specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our signatures this twenty-eighth day of July A. D. 1856. WM. H. KIMBALL.

A. J. FRENCH. Witnesses:

O. B. COOLIDGE, W. S. KIMBALL. 

